POLICE are today investigating a major cashcard cloning scam targeting bank and building society customers in the York area.

Detectives appealed for witnesses and information after a card "skimming" device was found by a customer on the cash point machine outside Nationwide Building Society, in Parliament Street.

Detective Constable Sarah Bullock said a pin-hole camera had been fitted above the key pad to record numbers, while a card reading device was fitted over the original to obtain card details.

The Press had already launched its own inquiries into card cloning in the York area after chief reporter Mike Laycock fell victim to a scam between last Tuesday and Sunday, in which more than £700 was siphoned from his Nationwide account from cash points in Italy.

Nationwide told The Press last night his case was not an isolated one.

"We believe there have been a number of incidents in the York area," said a spokesman.

"We are not able to establish at the moment how many ATMs have been affected or how many financial organisations have been involved. We understand police are confirming a number of machines with different organisations may be involved."

He said the Parliament Street cash point was temporarily out of service following the discovery of the skimming device.

"We would advise all ATM users in the York area to remain vigilant," he said.

Police said it was believed the Parliament Street device could have been fitted at any time on Tuesday or up until 1.30pm yesterday, when it was discovered.

DC Bullock said: "To the untrained eye, this device is very difficult to identify because it matches the machine in both size and colour.

"We would advise anyone who used this machine in the past two days to check their account for any fraudulent use and to report any suspicious activity to their building society or bank.

"There is also the possibility this scam has been used at cash points elsewhere in the area. Again, we would urge people to be extra vigilant and to report anything suspicious."

Anybody with any information about suspicious activity in the area of the Nationwide branch has been urged to phone York CID on 0845 6060247.

Nationwide has asked any concerned customers to check their accounts out of hours by phoning 08457 302010, or call in to the branch during the day.

* See tomorrow's Press for details of how Mike Laycock fell victim to international cash point fraudsters - and how you can check whether you have been caught out by the scam.